Roller-bearing apron-wheel.



J, B. HILL.

ROLLER BEARING APRQZI WHEEL.

APPLICATION F'UED MAY 29,1913.

Patented Feb. Q, 1915" Inventor Attorneys To all whcim it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs UB8 3. HILL) We RAGE ll y will l.

n, Louisiana.

ROLLER-BEARING- arisen-wanna.

icense.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

I Patented lFeb. 2, 19th.;

Applicationfiled may as, law. serial No. waves.

B. HELL, a citizen of the United States, residing. at

.LRa-celand in the parish of Lafourche and State of Louisiana, have "invented a new v and useful Roller-Bearing ApromWheel, of

Which-the following isa specification.

- The device forming the subjectmatter of this: application is. adapted to be assembled with a traction engine or like structure which embodies a movable apron or caterpillar of endless construction, andadapte to engage the ground.

One object oft-he present invention'is to provide novel means for supporting and ac-v tuating the-endless ground engaging memher.

Another object of the invention is to pro 'vide novel means whereby the supporting frame may be permittedtohave the necessary vertical movement without interfering with. the actuation of. the endless groun engaging. member.

It is within the S00 e of the invention to improve generally an toenhance theutility of, -.devices of that type to Whl0l1 the presentinvention appertains.

the above and iother objects in viewfvthieh will appear as'the description prpceeds, the invention resides in teammnationand arrangement of parts and in the details [of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changesinthe precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the'scope hf what is claimed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention' nating in curved ends 2'. A. bar in'the form of an inverted closed-ended channel 10 "is terminally attached to the posts 8 and extendsacross the frame.

ably being angle members. Thaends of the bottom bars13 are supported -upon the upper faces of the horizontal flanges of the curved a section on the line Secondary or bottom bars 3 are provided, the bars 3 preferiends 2. A weer strip 4 is ap lied to the ,lower face of the horizontal ange of the bottombar 3 and extends between the ex- ,trem-ities of the curved ends 2, so that a flush surface is provided, the said-flush surface comprising the outer faces of. the curved ends and the under face of thewear stripe I The bars 1 and 3 and the curvedends 2 are connected by end posts '5 and 6. .The

osts 5 may bel connected by a transversetie ar. 7 which may be an angle member. The

top bars 1 may be connected with the bottom bars by means .of intermediate. posts 8, constituting bearings, as will be described hereinafter. The intermediate posts 8 pref;

.erably; are angle members. Extending; diagonally of the rectangles defined by the posts 5 and 8 and 6 and 8 are counters '9 which may be angle members.

A support is mounted. for relative vertical movement. between the intermediate posts or bearings 8. The supportz'doim prises a pair of channel members 12 to which is secured a yoke 11.- Secured to the channels 12'are circular :fl'anged disks 1 1, mount ed to. rock between the intermediate posts or bearings 8 and upheld-by the bar, 10., f This construction permits the channel members 12 to rock on the-frame. securedtoythe yoke "11 is a bearing 15.

. The driving mechanism includes a shaft. Iii-which is journaled for rotation in the bearing15 and is supported, additionally,

if desired, in any suitable manner. The

shaft 16 may be provided at its outer end with .a sprocket. wheel 17, about which" is trained a sprocket chain 18, leading to'the motor, of the traction structure; although,

suitable '-manner., Mounted upon and secured to the shaft 16 and located adjacent the longitudinal center of the frame is a sprocket wheel 19 about which is trained a sprocket chain 20, thesprocketchain-20be+ ing trained about a sprocket'wheel 21secured to -a transverse shaft 22, journaled for rotation in bearing brackets 23 carried-by theposts 6. Secured to the shaft 22 .is a sprocket wheel 24 around which is trained a sprocket chain 25 preferablylocated along the longitudinal center of the main frame. "A11 endless ground member is I provided,

the same comprising a plurality of slats 2.17.1;

obviously, the shaft 16 may be driven in any secured to pivota'lly connected links constij-:.

tut-ing a chain 28. Thelinks of the sprocket chain 25 may be equipped with laterally extended feet 26 which are secured to the slats 27 on the chain 28. The slats 27 on the chain 28 are equipped adjacent their outer surfaces with lugs 29. These lugs 29 constitute means for preventing-an undue sagging of the ground engaging member.

Interposed between the ground engaging member and the frame proper is an antifrictional support for the groundengaging member, the same comprising a chain 30,'

the links of which are connected by pivot elements 31 constituting bearings for flanged rollers 32. The rollers 32 receive the links of the chain 28 and are adapted to traverse around the tracks defined by the top bars 1, the curved ends 2 and the wear strip 4 which is supported by the bottom bar 3.

In practical operation, rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 16 from the motor by suitable mechanism, such as the sprocket chain 18 and the sprocket wheel 17. When the shaft 16 is driven, movement will be imparted to the sproc :et chain 20 and from the sprocket chain 20 through the sprocket wheel 21 to the frame supported shaft '22.

The shaft.22 through the medium of the prising the members 12 and 11, and asso- 1 cited parts,-is mounted to rock between the hearings or posts 8 of the frame 124 and on the bar 10, and consequently, the necessary movement is permitted in the supporting frame.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is v In a traction attachment of the class described, a frame comprising top and bottom bars; posts connecting the top and bottom bars; a support comprising circular disks mounted to rock between the posts and supported by the frame; a yoke projecting from the support; a shaft journaled in the yoke; a sprocket wheel carried by the shaft; a shaft journaled on the frame; a sprocket wheel carried by the last specified shaft; a sprocket chain trained around the sprocket wheels; an endless ground-engaging member mounted to move around the frame; and

'means for operatively connecting the ground engaging -member with the frame-supported shaft.

In testimony that :I claim the foregoing as my own,-I have hereto affixed my signatime in the presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES B. HILL.

Witnesses L. M. FOLSE, FRANKLIN P. G'Umnoz, 

